REVIEW – You gotta love Edifier. These guys have managed to create audio audio system in virtually each style/worth level with out watering down high quality. Their audio system can compete greenback for greenback with any equally priced speaker from extra well-known manufacturers. They’ve managed to assume long-term by buying the legendary Japanese Audio model, Stax. Plus, they teamed with one other legend—British speaker designer Phil Jones to create the AirPulse premium speaker model. Phil can be a bass guitar amplifier designer, so it’s no shock to anybody that when he designed a Bluetooth speaker, he added a line-in for plugging in a guitar, turning the speaker right into a small, private amp—the AU-4. Does it dwell as much as Phil Jones’ popularity?
⬇︎ Leap to abstract (execs/cons)
Value: $279.99
The place to purchase: Amazon
What’s it?
The AirPulse AU-4 Bluetooth speaker is a squarish tabletop speaker that appears like a mini-guitar amp—as a result of it is a mini-guitar amp. At 6 x 7.75 x 8 inches and weighing solely 6 lbs, the AU-4 might be positioned virtually wherever in the home.
Observe that the AU-4 is not an out of doors speaker. It’s not waterproof and has no battery. It should be plugged into an outlet.
The AU-4’s DSP digital amp places out 35W by a 1 x 4-inch custom-designed wide-frequency speaker.
A high plate holds an array of ports, buttons, and dials. A regular AUX port sits subsequent to a 1/4-inch stereo enter—good for musical devices akin to guitars, basses, and keyboards.
There are three toggle switches for numerous capabilities. A Reset/PlayPause change can reset Bluetooth for re-pairing with a unique system, in addition to play and pause music. An enter change swaps between AUX, Bluetooth, and LINE IN modes. The third change is each a Bluetooth indicator (flashing for pairing, stable for connection) and an On/Off change.
Beneath the ports and switches, are three knobs/dials for easy equalizing—Bass, Treble and Quantity. It’s all very primary—by design.
The facet of the AU-4 speaker has a port for an included energy wire.
The outside of the AU-4 is roofed in actual leather-based, just like the sort used on amps. Two colorways are provided — White or Blue.
What’s included?
- AirPulse AU-4 speaker
- Energy wire
Tech specs
- Dimensions: 6 x 7.75 x 8 inches (WxDxH)
- Weight: 6 lbs
- Energy: 35W amp
- 4-inch extensive frequency driver
- Leather-based-wrapped shell
- Anodized aluminum management panel
- Painted metallic grill
- 4 rubber ft
- AUX/BT/LINE
- BASS: Low-frequency adjustment TREBLE: Excessive-frequency adjustment VOLUME: Foremost quantity management
- Inputs: 6.35mm stereo, 3.5mm stereo AUX, Bluetooth 5.1 (aptX HD)
Design and options
The extra I hearken to the AirPulse AU-4 Bluetooth speaker, the extra I prefer it, regardless of a few annoying quirks (later). It sounds good in any respect quantity ranges. With the quantity cranked, the AU-4 can simply fill a room, even with its small 4-inch speaker. Chalk that as much as the genius of the designer, Phil Jones. It nonetheless sounds good at low quantity. By turning up the bass and decreasing the treble a bit, music sounds full with out shedding frequencies that may be misplaced at low volumes.
The AU-4’s built-in high quality turns into instantly obvious as soon as the over-sized analog bass, treble and quantity knobs/dials are turned. Along with the protecting leather-based wrap, the AU-4 comes with a black metallic grill that quietly protects the speaker.
Working the AU-4 speaker is a no brainer. I by no means had to take a look at the guide to determine it out. Why can’t all Bluetooth audio system be this straightforward?
All of the controls act and really feel analog, regardless that the tech behind them is digital, all the way down to its DSP all-digital amp. Sadly, there isn’t any USB-C enter for a digital-to-digital connection, so any AUX connection’s audio high quality is dependent upon the supply’s digital-to-analog conversion (DAC). The AU-4 doesn’t have a DAC.
The AU-4’s 5.1 Bluetooth is aptX-HD for what AirPulse calls wi-fi CD high quality sound… for non-Apple customers anyway. Regardless that my iPhone doesn’t help aptX (in any type), I don’t miss it. Bluetooth has improved dramatically over time. CD high quality or not, it’s virtually a non-issue as we speak whether or not aptX is used or not.
I listened to totally different genres of music whereas testing the AU-4 speaker, from 60s folks to Russian Choral music (a responsible pleasure). The choral music options the bottom (human) bass to virtually painfully excessive frequencies—all a cappella! The AU-4 speaker by no means distorted or sounded disagreeable. The one harshness I heard was within the recording itself, which I additionally heard on many different Bluetooth audio system. Due to recording limitations, oldies folks rock normally has diminished bass and pushed mid-range vocals. By adjusting the bass knob on the AU-4, I used to be capable of spherical out the audio to a extra trendy sound. It made the people music I’ve at all times liked sound even higher.
The AU-4 doubles as a private mini-amp. Sadly, I don’t play an instrument, so I couldn’t take a look at this characteristic. My son is an expert participant, however he lives in Atlanta. Subsequent time he visits, I’m going to get his tackle this. If it sounds pretty much as good because it does enjoying pre-recorded music, it’s going to be a winner.
Earlier, I discussed a few annoying quirks with the AU-4 speaker. First, the AU-4 needs to be plugged in always. There is no such thing as a battery, so it must be used solely indoors or a minimum of shielded from moisture. That’s the opposite quirk. There is no such thing as a water resistance score, so it’s not really helpful that the AU-4 be used within the kitchen (besides far-off from cooking and water) and most undoubtedly not in a toilet! A promo photograph on the AirPulse web site exhibits a younger girl utilizing the AU-4 subsequent to a pool. No—simply no. Consider the AU-4 as a tabletop speaker that simply occurs to appear to be an amp (as a result of it’s).
Last ideas
The AirPulse AU-4 Bluetooth speaker stunned me. It appeared, felt and sounded higher than I anticipated. Granted, it’s not low cost, however the worth shouldn’t be outrageous, both. What the AU-4 lacks in options, it makes up in high quality—in each audio and construct. I might simply suggest this speaker, particularly to apartment-dwelling musicians who may also want a private amp.
What I like about AirPulse AU-4 Bluetooth speaker
- Nicely made
- Sounds nice for its measurement
- Simple to make use of analog knobs and buttons
- It doubles as a mini guitar amp
What must be improved?
- No water resistance score
- No TWS (wi-fi stereo)
- No battery. Should be plugged in.
Value: $279.99
The place to purchase: Amazon
Supply: The pattern of this product was supplied totally free by Edifier AirPulse. AirPulse didn’t have a closing say on the evaluate and didn’t preview the evaluate earlier than it was printed.
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